Archive for June, 2009

Spring Quarter at CSU Eastbay is done. Introduction to Online Teaching and Learning gave me an overview of the process and our professor, Dr. Anne Guptill, made me long for more. I remember my first few days in class thinking “What am I doing here?” Then as time went on, I really fell in love with the learning experience. I now understand how this media can offer as rich or maybe an even richer environment for learning if its done right. The second class on online teaching models was less fulfilling. The instructor was disorganized, lacked clarity in assignments and everyone in the cohort had to work harder than need be. They say that adversity can be the greatest teacher. If that’s true, then I know how not to run an online classroom from this experience. The greatest gift of the second class was the bonding of our cohort. The support and encouragement we gave to each other. My next class starting in a week is Technology Tools in the Online Environment. I’m home.

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle;
when 24 hours in a day are not enough;
remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee…

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began,
he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it withgolf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full.
The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then producedtwo cups of coffeefrom under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

‘Now,’ said the professor as the laughter subsided,
‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things
–your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—
and if everything else was lost and only they remained;
your life would still be full.

The pebbles are theother things that matter; like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else—the small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ’there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

‘Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness

Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your spouse out to dinner.
Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first –the things that really matter–

Set your priorities.
‘The rest is just sand.’

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.
‘I’m glad you asked.’
‘It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem;
There’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.’